69. Hidayah

A seven letter word which some people use it very often while others don't even know what it is. 

So let's understand what it is!

Hidayah is not from people, neither I can give Hidayah nor anyone else can, neither it can be bought nor be gotten by reading tons and tons of things. 

Hidayah is from Allah azzawajal. 

He gives Hidayah who he wishes and do not give to those whom he doesn't wishes.

You and I can pray for someone's Hidayah, but we cannot give hidayah to anyone by ourself. 

It's solely by the Almighty King Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. 

The story of the time of death of Abu Talib - Uncle of Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Imam Bukhari relates a hadith in his Sahih: Sa’eed ibn al-Musayyib narrates from his father: 

“When the time of the death of Abu Talib approached, Allah’s messenger salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam went to him and found Abu Jahl ibn Hisham and ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah ibn al-Mughira by his side. Allah’s messenger salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to Abu Talib: “O uncle! Say: There is none worthy of worship besides Allah, a sentence with which I shall be a witness for you before Allah” Abu Jahl and ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah said, “O Abu Talib! Are you going to denounce the religion of Abdul Muttalib?” Allah’s messenger salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  kept on inviting Abu Talib to say it (i.e. There is none worthy of worship besides Allah) while they (Abu Jahl and Abdullah) kept on repeating their statement untill Abu Talib said as his last statement that he was on the religion of Abdul Muttalib and refused to say, There is none worthy of worship besides Allah.’ Then Allah’s messenger salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “I will keep on asking Allah’s forgiveness for you unless I am forbidden (by Allah) to do so.” (Sahih al-Bukhari no:4399 and Sahih Muslim no:35)

Thereafter the verse of the Holy Qur’an was revealed: 
“It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe that they should invoke (Allah) for forgiveness for pagans even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of the fire.” (Al-Qur’an 9:113 Surah al-Tawbah)

And in relation to Abu Talib the following verse was also revealed:
“Indeed you will not be able to guide whom you wish, but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance.”
(Al-Qur’an 28:.56 Surah al-Qasas)

Sahih Muslim reports that this verse was revealed regarding Abu Talib. 

It was Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s great desire that Abu Talib should accept the faith. 

It was for this desire that he salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was advised that it was not within his control to put faith in anybody’s heart.

Hadhrat Ibn Abbas relates a hadith which is also recorded in Sahih Muslim. He says:
Allah’s messenger salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Among the inhabitants of the fire AbuTalib would have the least suffering, and he would be wearing two shoes (of Fire) which would boil his brain.”
(Sahih Muslim no:312,  Kanz al-‘Ummal no:39512,  Musnad Ahmed ibn al-Hanbal no:2636)

From the above story we can understand that Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam himself couldn't give anyone guidance but he was sent to guide the ummah. 

Guidance is by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and no one else. So to get guidance on right path we have to constantly ask Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and remember Allah never sends a believer (du'a) empty handed.

So make du'a for beautiful and righteous guidance, because this is very very important. 

And if guidance is stolen from the person he is misguided for life and his abode will be Jahannum. 

So my beloved people kindly make du'a for guidance(hidayah).

May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala grant us Hidayah and keep us dutiful. 

Ameen